Strainer mechanism



April 16, 1957 l. c. JENNINGS STRAINER MECHANISM Original Filed July 27, 1950 3 Claims. (Cl. 210116) This invention relates to a novel strainer devised for use in the receiver of a vacuum heating system but capable of other uses.

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 176,103 filed July 17, 1950 for Pumping Mechanism, the complete disclosure of which is made a part of the present disclosure by reference.

in said copending application disclosure is made of a receiver and a separator, one or more vacuum pumps for withdrawing non-condensable gases from the receiver, and one or more liquid pumps for withdrawing liquid from the receiver and maintaining the liquid in the receiver at substantially a predetermined level.

Opposite walls of the receiver have similar aligned openings formed in opposite walls above the water level. A flanged return pipe is adapted for interchangeable connection to either wall in line with the opening thereof. A perforated strainer pipe, open at both ends is supported jointly by the walls in said openings. A closure member is removably applied over the unused opening, the arrangement being such that access to the interior of the strainer, with the strainer in place, may be had by removal of the closure.

The primary feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel strainer adapted to be inerted through either of two aligned openings in opposite walls of the receiver and to be supported by the walls jointly. The strainer desirably comprises a pipe or tube formed with a multiplicity of perforations substantially throughout its length. The ends of the pipe are open so that the strainer can be cleaned in place through its normally covered end when the wall opening in which that end is supported is uncovered.

The strainer is disposed above the normal water level in the receiver, so that cleaning of the strainer does not require previous draining of the receiver. The location of the strainer above the water level also enables air to pass freely through the strainer. The return pipe and a closure member may be interchangeably connected over the openings in the opposite walls of the receiver.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

in the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view partly broken away of a receiver, separator and pump assembly with certain optional equipment shown in broken lines; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the assembly of Figure 1 but with the optional parts in full line.

The drawing illustrates a practical and advantageous embodiment of the invention. The illustrative apparatus comprises a closed tank 1 of generally rectangular form. The tank is divided by vertical partition walls 2 and 3 to divide otf separators 4 and 5 from the main body of the tank which constitutes the receiver 6. The receiver and separators are provided side by side at a common level, and each separator has external walls in common with the receiver.

The partition walls 2 and 3 extend from floor to cover of 7 2,788,898 Patented Apr. 16, 1%57 the tank 1 so that the separators may be closed off completely from the receiver and maintained at a difierent pressure from the receiver.

The returns from a vacuum heating system are delivered to the receiver by a return conduit 7 which terminates in a flange secured to the tank by bolts 13. The opposite walls 8 and 9 of the tank 1 are formed near the top with openings having inwardly projecting flanges 10 and 11 in which a tubular strainer la is removaoly supported. The walls 8 and 9 and the flanges it and 11 are identical in construction so that the pipe '7 can be secured to the wall 8 or to the wall 9, as desired. As shown in the drawing, the opening through the wall 8 is covered by a closure member 14 which is secured to the Wall 8 by suitable means, such as bolts 15. The flange 12 and the closure plate 14 are adapted to be interchangeably connected to the Walls 3 and 9. The tubular strainer 7a provides a screen of large area extending completely across the top of the tank, which can be cleaned in place when the closure plate 1 is removed. it is held in place by being confined between the conduit 7 and the closure plate 14 and can, therefore, be very conveniently removed for servicing or replacement, after removal of the closure plate 14-, in case it becomes damaged. The level of the Water in the receiver is automatically maintained below the strainer. This permits the strainer to be cleaned in place without draining the receiver. It also permits air to escape freely through the strainer into the receiver.

In the illustrative apparatus two separators and 5 are illustrated but they are not necessarily both put to use. The simplest unit would comprise a single vacuum pump it; and a single water pump 17.

The separator 4 is connected to the atmosphere near the top through a pipe 18. Inserted in the separator 4 is a standard rotary vacuum pump 16 of the Nash type in which a ring of water serves as an air propelling means and as a cooling medium for the pump.

The air received by the pump at sub-atmospheric pressure is compressed to atmospheric pressure and discharged to the upper part of the separator 4, whence it is allowed to escape to the atmosphere freely through the discharge pipe 18. The air pump is partially submerged in water contained in the separator. This water is delivered to the separator by the pump 1d.

The water is maintained in the separator at a desired level by means of a ball float valve 29. The valve mechanism including the float 33 is desirably carried by a fitting 36 which is secured over openings 31 and 32. The openings 31 and 32 communicate, respectively, with the separator 4 and with the receiver 6. The fitting 30 is formed with a passage for conducting surplus water back from the separator 4 to the receiver 6. The float 38 controls a valve.

Since the separator is maintained at a higher pressure than the receiver, the water flows freely from the separator to the receiver whenever the valve is lifted 0% its seat.

The pump takes air from near the top of the receiver 6 through a pipe or conduit 43.

The conduit 43 extends out through the receiver wall 8 and into a chamber 45 which is formed in a side extension 46 of the pump casing. The chamber 45 communicates directly with the pump intake.

An additional air pump 16a may be provided in association with the separator 5. The air pump 15a, its mounting, connections and mode of operation will all desirably be exactly the same as for the pump 16, so that no detailed description is considered necessary.

An additional water pump 17a may also be provided when required, the pump construction and mounting being desirably the same as those of the pump 17.

A ball float switch 69 is provided for controlling the starting and stopping of the condensate pump or pumps according to the level of the condensate accumulated in" the receiver. The construction and principle of operation of these. devices is conventional and is well understood, so that no detailed showing or description is thought necessary.

A vacuum regulator 71 (see Fig. 2) is provided to start, the air pumps when the vacuum falls below a predetermined value.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. 1 do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a heating system, in combination, a receiver of many gallons capacity, said receiver having an upwardly extending Wall portion and a pair of horizontally spaced openings one of which is located in said upwardly exported in the openings of the receiver between the conduit and the closure member in position to receive and strain all the returns delivered by said conduit, the construction and arrangement being such that the strainer can be cleaned in place when the closure member is removed, or can be withdrawn bodily through said other opening for cleaning, together with the contained detritus which has been denied general access to the receiver by the strainer.

2. In a heating system, in combination, a receiver of many gallons capacity having opposite parallel upwardly extending walls formed with aligned substantially duplicate openings, said openings being located a substantial distance above the bottom of the receiver, a return conduit for conducting water and air to the receiver and having a flange at its end through which it is secured 4 externally to the receiver in communication with the opening in one of said walls, a closure member secured externally to the opposite wall and covering the opening therein, and a tubular water strainer open at both ends and from end to end, insertable through either opening, and supported in the wall openings of the receiver between the conduit and the closure member in position to receive and strain all the returns delivered by said conduit, the conduit flange and closure member being constructed and arranged for interchangeable connection to the receiver walls, the construction and arrangement being such that the strainer can be conveniently cleaned in place when the closure member is removed, mean be withdrawn bodily through the wall opening for cleaning, together with the contained detritus which has been denied general access to the receiver by the strainer.

33. In a heating system, in combination, a receiver having opposite parallel lateral walls formed with aligned openings, a return conduit for conducting water and air to the receiver through the opening in one of said walls, a closure member removably secured in place to cover the opening in the opposite wall, a tubular strainer, open at both ends and from end to end, supported in the wall openings of the receiver itself between the conduit and the closure member in position to receive and 'strain all the returns delivered by said conduit, and means automatically maintaining the liquid in the receiver at substantially a prescribed level, the openings and the strainer being disposed near enough to the top of the receiver to be above such prescribed level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

